Cross-Racial Identification

[Name of the Institute]

Abstract

The Research Paper reviews the concept of Cross-Racial Identification and its implication in law. The discussion incorporates few examples highlighting the injustice which can happen due to the inaccuracy of the method. The discussion will also highlight the past research evidence, as well as, the factors which affect the ability of a person to accurately identify the criminal.

Cross-Racial Identification

Introduction

Wrong identification by eyewitness is one of the major causes of erroneous conviction in the US, and according to various studies, most of wrongful identifications are racial based. This research paper will highlight issues in cross racial identification with the help of literature and case review. For instance, during a testifying in a trial, in Maryland, a young African American was identified and pointed, by a Hispanic eyewitness, as a culprit. The identification was wrong and the man, who was identified as a culprit, was a law student participating in a law school clinic, and representing the defendant, who was also an African American. The extraordinary thing was that the identifier accused the defender in a pretrial statement, claiming that he knew the person from past three years. As a result, the charges were dismissed immediately (Aaronson, 2008).

The Accuracy of Cross-Racial Identification

Lenell Geter was apprehended, on August 23, 1982, in Greenville Texas with charges of robbery at KFC restaurant. Geter was an employed, collage educated, 25 years old mechanical engineer at a firm in Greenville. His colleagues argued that he could not have been involved in the crime as he was in the factory during the time of the crime. However, around five witnesses identified him as a culprit. The crime took place around 50 miles away from the factory where Geter was working. The boss of Mr. Geter also argued that there is no way he could go that far without telling him. The trial took place in October 1982. During the trial, eyewitnesses identified Geter as criminal. A jury consisting of all white judges stated the Geter is guilty, and he was sentenced for life time imprisonment. His colleagues collaborated with the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) in order to push the case, while it's has been 16 months since, Geter was sentenced. Another suspect was arrested in 1984, in March 1984, and four out five eyewitnesses pointed to this new suspect as a criminal. Geter was freed after suffering from injustice for sixteen months (Loftus & Ketcham, 1991).

The inaccuracy of cross racial identification has left thousands of innocent women and men with injustice. Such inaccurate identifications are not uncommon (Dewitt-Rickards & O'Brien, 1989). Although, jurisdictions accept the inaccuracy of such methods, cross racial identification is still considered in many cases.

Discussion

The human memory is considered the most magnificent creation; however, it is not perfect. Human cannot always recall accurately. Some people are better at memorizing and re-collecting, while others lack the ability to re-call. What actually happens is that we reconstruct our memories and full the gap with our own perceptions and ...